Gold up, food stable in Kabul

KABUL (PAN): Gold prices increased, while the value of the local currency declined against the US dollar while other daily-use commodity rates stayed unchanged during the outgoing week in Kabul, retailers said on Thursday.

Basir, a jeweller in the Timor Shahi neighborhood, told Pajhwok Afghan News the price of one gram of Arabian gold rose from 2,150 afghanis to 2,200 afs but the Iranian variety stayed stable and was sold for 1,800afs.

Moneychanger Ahmad Shah said the buying rate of a US dollar was 56.50afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees accounted for 549afs. Last week's exchange value of the dollar stood at 56.70afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 5,49afs.

Food prices saw no change, as a 50-kilogram bag of Pakistani sugar sold for 1,750afs, a 24-kg bag of rice for 1,800afs. Haji Fazal Rahman, the Food Traders' Union head, said a 5-kg tin of Momin ghee cost 400afs, a kilo of African black tea 210afs and the same quantity of Indonesian green tea 175afs.

But wholesale prices varied from retail rates in some parts of the city. Khan Ali, a shopkeeper in the Karta-i-Seh locality, sold a 24-kg sack of Pakistani rice for 2,200afs, a 50-kg bag of sugar for 1,950afs and 49 kilograms of flour for 1,280afs.

He sold a 5-kg tin of ghee for 460afs, a kilo of black African team for 270afs and the same quantity of Indonesian green tea for 230afs.

Fuel prices remained unchanged, with a litre of petrol costing 61afs and diesel 63afs, said Abdullah Hadi, the manager of a filling station in the Wazirabad area.

A gas dealer in the Kolola Pushta locality, Mohammad Sharif, said one kilogram of liquefied gas was priced at for 47afs, the same price as last week.